<VV> RE: U-joint replacement

[Keith Hammett]

Why all the cutting?  Just use a BFH and socket to move caps away from snap
rings, then use pliers to remove snap rings.  Works for me...

Keith (Mo. Rust) Hammett

-----Original Message-----
After years of fighting the snap rings that hold U-joints into 1965-69 axle
tubes, I have discovered the fastest way to get everything apart.  I live in
Michigan where rust is the world's best lockwasher.  First there is no hope
of changing them on the car, so take them off the car and go in to your
workshop.  Trying to use needle nose pliers to undo the snap rings is
usually met by the tabs breaking off, making the rings impossible to remove.
What I have discovered is I go to my 12" abrasive cutoff saw and stick the
U-joint under the saw blade with the axle parallel to the blade and
grind/cut the joint into 3 pieces.  The center trunnion area falls out
leaving the end caps and chunks of the shaft ends in place in the axle.  Now
go to the workbench and lay the axle on something solid that will resist
pounding.  Spray a little PB Blaster into the snap ring area and let it work
a while.  Now get out a drift that will fit thru the snap ring without
touching it.  Using a BFH pound the caps INWARD, away from the snap rings.
The caps will fall out leaving the snap rings in place.  Now that the caps
are gone, relieving the pressure on the snap rings, you can usually get them
out of the groove without breaking them.  When in doubt, use more PB
Blaster!
Clark the brutewrench Hartzel
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